How Ratzinger became Pope

Although the conclave officially began when the ornate doors of the Sistine Chapel closed on Monday, the election of Pope Benedict XVI less ...

Although the conclave officially began when the ornate doors of the Sistine Chapel closed on Monday, the election of Pope Benedict XVI less than 24 hours later was virtually decided before the balloting began. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger arrived with a solid base of votes that staved off the emergence of any real challenger, culminating a juggernaut of a campaign months in the making, cardinals and Vatican-watchers said on Thursday.

As Ratzinger gathered momentum during the conclave, some holdouts changed their votes ‘‘for the unity of the Church,’’ British Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said. The fourth ballot resulted in victory on Tuesday afternoon, a speedy outcome that seemed to awe the new Pope. ‘‘When the majority of 77 or 78 was reached, there was a gasp,’’ Murphy said. ‘‘Everyone clapped. He had his head down. He must have said a prayer.”

Ratzinger’s career had been building toward that night of pomp and joy. He accumulated clout during two decades as the chief of the Vatican’s Doctrinal Watchdog office and, more recently, as dean of the College of Cardinals. During the waning years of Pope John Paul II, he essentially ran the Church. He enjoyed unique access to an increasingly infirm Pontiff who helped pave his path to succeeding him. The German cardinal drew increasing speculation as a Papabile candidate late last year. The groundswell came partly from quiet promotion by powerful conservative movements such as Opus Dei and Communion and Liberation, an organisation that is strong among the Italian political and business elite.

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At a Mass on Monday morning, Ratzinger delivered a broadside televised around the world: A homily denouncing moral relativism and celebrating Christian identity. He spoke with the stern confidence of a candidate on the verge of victory. ‘‘He says the homily and is applauded by the whole Church,’’ said Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Chile. ‘‘There were many signs, very clear signs, that he appeared as the first choice.’’

The remnants of resistance to Ratzinger faded during the two ballots on Tuesday morning. Cardinal Glemp said the consensus resulted from patient discussion. ‘‘Calmly, calmly, without propaganda, we talked and two-thirds thought he was the best,’’ Glemp said. The shift in allegiance to Ratzinger included prominent members of the reformist camp aligned with Martini, according to several accounts. —LAT-WP